Outcomes and Impact | Colorado Mesa University

From High School to Higher Education

Each year, Colorado Mesa University’s TRIO Upward Bound program celebrates the achievements of graduating seniors who turn college dreams into reality. Their accomplishments reflect the power of persistence, purpose, and the promise of first-generation scholars shaping their futures.

Notable Scholarships & Student Awards

Gates Scholar
QuestBridge College Prep Scholar
Daniels Fund Scholar
MITES Scholar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
National Student Leadership Congress Winners

Masonic Student of the Year

College Acceptances

University of California Berkeley

University of Michigan

Howard University

Colorado College

Colorado School of Mines

University of Colorado Boulder

68%

Upward Bound participants enrolling in at least one Advanced Placement or Dual Enrollment course.

3.68

Average college GPA for Upward Bound students taking concurrent enrollment classes at Colorado Mesa University.

81%

Upward Bound graduates enroll in college immediately after high school.

National Recognition

2026 Upward Bound graduate Terrence Liu was awarded the prestigious Gates Scholarship, a highly selective scholarship covering the full cost of attendance not already covered by other financial aid.

Classroom & Community

UB students volunteered at the 2026 Desert Bloom Bash, a fundraiser benefiting Hilltop Youth Connections. The event raised $58,000 to support youth programs throughout the Grand Junction community.

Leadership without Limits

UB student, Johnathon (third from right), shared his experience as a student leader at Grand Junction High School with the Boettcher Foundation Trustee Board.